Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

5YO plus | Class 3 | 3m | 5 Runners | Turf

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 135| D

Belatedly doubled his tally over fences when landing the Badger Beers at Wincanton on return in November. Another cracking effort in a valuable handicap chase over this C&D last month and he should prove a tough nut to crack off the same mark.

Form: F27-144

Welcom To Cartries^t⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| D

2/1

Useful hurdler and similar standard over the larger obstacles, leaving reappearance behind when prevailing in a narrow finish at Sandown in December. Shaped as if amiss the following month at Ascot but will have a fighting chance if able to bounce back.

Form: 442-61P

Annsam⁷⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs C Williams| OR: 132| CD

5/1

Useful handicap chaser at his best and was on a going day when landing a 5-runner contest in good style at Ludlow in December. Absent since taking a heavy fall at Sandown the following month but he remains on a workable mark and is entitled to be in the mix here, granted a clean round of jumping.

Form: 3-4651F

Es Perfecto^p³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 129| C| D

7/1

Bagged handicap chases here and at Sandown last term and while he's failed to fire in 3 runs so far this season, it's far from beyond the realms of possibility that he'll bounce back now eased in grade off a reduced mark.

Form: 415-P06

Lumi Plugin²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116| BF

2/1

Progressive hurdler last winter and left previous chase form behind returned to this trip at Plumpton in January, cosily landing a small-field handicap. By no means disgraced under an inexperienced amateur when second in another small-field affair over the same C&D next time.

Form: 12-7812

Forecasts

Gustavian (9/4), Lumi Plugin (5/2), Welcom To Cartries (7/2), Annsam (4/1), Es Perfecto (10/1)

None of these can be safely discounted but GUSTAVIAN stands out on his exploits in valuable handicaps this season, including his highly creditable C&D fourth last time. Es Perfecto needs to bounce back in a major way but will be a big threat off this mark if able to do so, while Lumi Plugin also looks dangerous in receipt of plenty of weight from his 4 rivals.